LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB/WAVE) — A former priest is accused of sexually assaulting one of his parishioners at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Sellersburg, Indiana, according to a lawsuit filed in Marion County.
Before mass Sunday, a deacon addressed the allegations in a statement to the congregation.
The lawsuit, filed June 10, accuses Rev. Ronald Mervil of sexual assault. It also accuses the current head pastor, Rev. Thomas Clegg, of doing nothing after the woman tried to report what happened.
The victim, identified as Jane Doe, said she had just moved to the area in 2024 seeking asylum when she joined the church. She met Mervil shortly after, who said he would find her a job.
According to the lawsuit, the victim attended a job fair in Indianapolis with Mervil. The victim said Mervil took her to a family member's home, where he forced her to hug him.
Mervil also tried to kiss the victim, but she refused.
On the way home from the fair, Mervil stopped in a Wendy's parking lot where the victim said he groped her and forced her to perform oral sex.
According to the lawsuit, Mervil told the victim to keep quiet or else he would close her asylum case.
A month later, Mervil went to the victim's job at a grocery store. According to the lawsuit, Mervil asked her for help with vegetables, and when the victim handed him an eggplant, he asked whether "she remembered his genitalia looking like the eggplant."
In addition to the allegations against Mervil, the victim also alleges that despite reporting the incident, Clegg never met with her, "did no investigation and did nothing to protect her."
In the statement read aloud to the congregation, the Archdiocese of Indianapolis said, in part, it was  "aware of the complaint" and that Mervil was immediately removed from his position.
"Upon learning of the allegation, the Archdiocese immediately removed the priest from ministry and reported the allegation to the civil authorities with whom we are cooperating fully," the statement continued. "The Archdiocese of Indianapolis is committed to protecting vulnerable children and adults and these kinds of allegations are taken very seriously."
Larry Wilder, Mervil's attorney, released the following statement on Mervil's behalf:
"Pastor Ronald Mervil is aware of the allegations contained in the recently filed civil lawsuit. These allegations are serious, and Pastor Mervil intends to vigorously defend his position through the appropriate legal process. A complaint contains allegations, not established facts, and Pastor Mervil is entitled to a full and fair opportunity to respond to those claims in court. Because this matter is now in litigation, we will address the allegations through the judicial process rather than through the media."
A trial has not yet been set.
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